Meditation is amazing for boosting your health and your mood. It’s such an important thing to do for yourself, but it can be hard to get started and keep it going.
However, the benefits make it worth the effort. Some of these benefits include:
Lower stress levels and blood pressure
Less chance of developing anxiety and depression
Improvements in the quality of your sleep
Boosts immune system function
Makes it easier to focus on tasks
Here are five tips to help you start meditating and keep your practice going:
1. Make yourself comfortable
Meditation can be hard to start with, especially if you’re not used to it. So, to make it easier to adjust, you should always start by making yourself feel as comfortable as possible.
First, choose a room or space that’s calm so you can stay focused. It should be uncluttered, free of distractions, and the right temperature for you.
It’s best to sit upright against a wall or on a chair, but if this doesn’t work for you, you can start in another position like lying down. You can also use cushions to feel more comfortable.
2. Start gradually
Instead of trying to meditate for long stretches straight away – which is a common reason for people avoiding the practice and giving up quickly – it’s best to start slowly.
Begin by meditating in manageable time chunks, like a few minutes a day. Then, when you get used to it, you can gradually increase the time.
3. Be as consistent as possible
It can be a struggle to maintain a meditation routine over time. But, establishing a routine and being consistent with it will make you much more likely to succeed.
Set aside a time each day to meditate, like after breakfast or before bed. Then, try to stick to this until it becomes a habit. Be as consistent as possible, and if you do miss a day, don’t see it as an excuse to give up – simply try again!
4. Don’t be too hard on yourself
Meditation is a learning curve. Some days might be easier than others, so be kind to yourself. Even if you find yourself getting distracted or feeling uncomfortable, work through it.
Like anything, it takes practice and it might not work straight away. However, with patience, the rewards make it worth it – emotionally, mentally, and physically. Once you start to feel these benefits, it makes it much easier to stick to the routine!
5. Manage your expectations
Daily meditation is a life skill that brings many benefits. But it can take a while to start reaping the rewards, so it’s important to be realistic and manage your expectations.
Meditation isn’t a quick fix to your problems and, although there might be some immediate benefits, it also involves long-term effort and a commitment.
Focus on one day at a time. Meditating gives you the chance to get to know your own mind better, but it’s also a long journey!
